'Don't block death penalty abolition' – NGO tells opposition MPs and senators
The Malaysian Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet) has called
on the opposition and BN-controlled Dewan Negara to support Putrajaya's
plan to abolish the death penalty.
Madpet spokesperson Charles Hector said the cabinet decision to
abolish the death penalty yesterday was good news for some 1,267 people
facing death row.
"Madpet hopes the MPs and senators from the opposition parties will
fully support the just move to abolish the death penalty," he said in a
statement today.
Hector added that Madpet hoped Putrajaya will follow through with its
decision, pointing out that the previous BN government had also made
similar indications which never materialised.
The BN-controlled Dewan Negara had previously blocked the abolition
of the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 after the Dewan Rakyat approved its
repeal.
Meanwhile, National Human Rights Society (Hakam) president Gurdial
Singh Nijar said the decision was "historic" and a fulfilment of Pakatan
Harapan government's manifesto.
"A death penalty is irreversible. There have been cases where the
wrong people have been sentenced to death for a variety of reasons –
including poor quality of defence. Thus, innocent lives are put at risk.
"Since the reinstatement of the death penalty in the US in 1976, 138
innocent men and women have been released from death row, including some
who came within minutes of execution. No such research has been
conducted in Malaysia," he said in a separate statement.
Gurdial acknowledged that the families of murder victims suffer a
great sense of loss and are traumatised but stressed that the execution
of another does not help them heal nor does it end their pain.
"Perhaps there are other ways the state can help such families,
especially those of murder victims – such as the provision of funds now
being used for the costly process of executions," he said.
Meanwhile, Lawyers for Liberty advisor N Surendran lauded Putrajaya's decision as "remarkable".
However, he added that the government should also fight for Malaysian citizens facing the death sentence abroad.
"At this moment, let us also not forget the many hundreds of
Malaysians who are languishing on death row in foreign countries,
particularly for being drug mules.
"A large number of Malaysians are awaiting execution just across the
causeway in Singapore, mainly for drug offences," he said in a
statement.
One such example, Surendran said, was the execution of S Prabagaran (photo) in Singapore last year.
"The BN government did nothing to save him... I, myself, as his
lawyer was in communication with then deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid
Hamidi, who personally assured me that he would help save Prabagaran.
"But in the end, Zahid was no help at all. Neither he nor the BN government said or did anything serious to stop the execution.
"We call upon the government to vigorously speak up for our citizens
facing death in distant shores. Having rejected the death penalty in
this country, we now have the moral authority to fight for the lives of
our citizens abroad," he said. - Malaysiakini, 11/10/2018
Next, save Malaysians sentenced to death abroad, Putrajaya told
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 — Civil group Lawyers for Liberty
(LFL) urged today the federal government to rescue Malaysians on death
row abroad after announcing its plan to abolish capital punishment.
LFL adviser N. Surendran praised the Pakatan Harapan (PH)
government for its move to table an abolition of laws providing for the
death penalty in the next Dewan Rakyat sitting, but said many citizens
are awaiting execution in other countries, including just across the
Causeway in Singapore, mainly for drug offences.
“At
this moment, let us also not forget the many hundreds of Malaysians who
are languishing on death row in foreign countries, particularly for
being drug mules,” the lawyer said in a statement.
In July last year, S. Prabagaran was hanged in Singapore
after he was convicted of drug trafficking, despite calls from the
United Nations and others to suspend his execution.
“Having
rejected the death penalty in this country, we now have the moral
authority to fight for the lives of our citizens abroad,” Surendran
said, adding that this must be a priority for the Foreign Ministry and
Putrajaya.
The National Human Rights Society (Hakam) said today that
the decision to abolish the death penalty infuses Malaysia’s criminal
justice system with values that “upholds life and proves its love for
its citizenry — no matter how and where and when they have gone wrong”.
Hakam president Gurdial Singh Nijar pointed out that the
death penalty is irreversible, putting innocent lives at risk, and
abolishing it would relieve judges and the State from deciding on
someone’s life.
Gurdial also said that a life sentence with opportunity
of parole would provide an opportunity for rehabilitation, and the funds
now used for executions can better be used to help families of victims,
especially those of the crime of murder.
However, Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture
(Madpet) has warned Putrajaya against disappointing Malaysians in
enacting the decision, hoping that the Bill will be tabled at least for
the first reading at the next immediate session.
“Madpet hopes that MP and Senators from the Opposition
parties will fully support the just move to abolish the death penalty,”
said its spokesman Charles Hector.
Yesterday, de facto law minister Datuk Liew Vui Keong
said while the government is studying certain cases, as of now, all
executions have been halted.
It has been reported that a total of 1,267 prisoners are on death row, while 35 have been executed in the last decade.- Malay Mail, 11/10/2018
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